The ITK Discussion Thread - 15th January 2022

[McFlash]

Biggest concern for me is we seem to be hearing more about outgoings (Ndombele, Dele, Lo Celso, Tanganga, even Gil) and not much in regards to incomings (Traore). We are already so short on options just seems like we are going to further exacerbate that.

I'd honestly be happy to clear out our squad in preparation for next season. Yeah, we may struggle a bit for the rest of this season but if Conte doesn't want to play them anyway, we're not actually missing much.

There are some players we just need to get off our books, whether we replace them now or in six months, at least they're not taking up space and wages

 

[YB123]

I'd honestly be happy to clear out our squad in preparation for next season. Yeah, we may struggle a bit for the rest of this season but if Conte doesn't want to play them anyway, we're not actually missing much.

There are some players we just need to get off our books, whether we replace them now or in six months, at least they're not taking up space and wages

It seems like a risky approach but probably worth doing.

 

[the lad]

Ah yes, just wondering why some posters are complaining about the board not delivering this window despite the window not being closed yet?

To end your wondering, TWENTY years and one trophy is a good starting point.

 

[sausage]

I'd honestly be happy to clear out our squad in preparation for next season. Yeah, we may struggle a bit for the rest of this season but if Conte doesn't want to play them anyway, we're not actually missing much.

There are some players we just need to get off our books, whether we replace them now or in six months, at least they're not taking up space and wages

I would never be against a Sherwood-style squad to end a season. Get rid of some paperweights and fill in the gaps with some younger players.

We've always, always, always had issues with selling players, and I tend to get more excited about the outs than the ins as a result. Sell now and know where we stand so we can do some Modric-esq transfers (april?) that know they're starting pre-season weeks or months in advance. Better than the causality style "if we can sell A then we'll buy B" that drags on.

Hearing more about outgoings is, therefore, plenty fine for me - as long as Conte is in on the plan

 

[Hotspur_Hero]

Biggest concern for me is we seem to be hearing more about outgoings (Ndombele, Dele, Lo Celso, Tanganga, even Gil) and not much in regards to incomings (Traore). We are already so short on options just seems like we are going to further exacerbate that.

I have to agree. That's my biggest concern with the Loan/Sell Tanganga crowd (and how I felt about the Stevie to Ajax rumors prior to his goals). Conte has made it clear to everyone who he can trust and who he won't trust no matter how dire the injury situation gets. Japh is starting every single game for us right now and Rodon is clearly not in the picture. Until we get another CB in (and honestly we probably could use 2 if Rodon is gone also) we can't let Japh go, no matter how much AC Milan offer up. Our squad is just so thin numbers- and quality-wise right now. If you can swap Tangana for a De Vrij or Pau Torres, then great! But I just don't see that happening in January. If Conte really doesn't see a use for Dele, GLC, and Ndombele then we need at least one warm body in to replace them as well. I'm excited by the Traore news, as I do think he will be a nice upgrade on Doc and Emerson and a nice option in the front three. But I too am surprised that Traore is the only one with any real smoke behind it, because on paper at least, he plays positions we actually have cover for. Giving Fabio and Co the benefit of the doubt, I imagine things are going on behind the scenes that we/the media just aren't privy to at the moment.

 

[Hotspur_Hero]

I'd honestly be happy to clear out our squad in preparation for next season. Yeah, we may struggle a bit for the rest of this season but if Conte doesn't want to play them anyway, we're not actually missing much.

There are some players we just need to get off our books, whether we replace them now or in six months, at least they're not taking up space and wages

It will be significantly easier to replace players in the summer if we get into the Champions League. Despite a bad loss today, we are well and truly in the drivers seat for 4th. Throwing that away just makes the rebuild harder come summertime. I'm fully supportive of moving on Dele, Gio, Tanguy, Rodon, and anyone else Conte won't use. Get what we can for them now, even if it is not much. But the folks calling for the sales/loans/terminations of Tanganga, Doherty, Bergwijn, Sanchez, Hojbjerg, and [insert your favorite scapegoat here] are well off the mark.

 

[Stoof]

To end your wondering, TWENTY years and one trophy is a good starting point.

Change the record pal. Or, as we’ve asked you multiple times, take it to the right fucking thread.

 

[McFlash]

I would never be against a Sherwood-style squad to end a season. Get rid of some paperweights and fill in the gaps with some younger players.

We've always, always, always had issues with selling players, and I tend to get more excited about the outs than the ins as a result. Sell now and know where we stand so we can do some Modric-esq transfers (april?) that know they're starting pre-season weeks or months in advance. Better than the causality style "if we can sell A then we'll buy B" that drags on.

Hearing more about outgoings is, therefore, plenty fine for me - as long as Conte is in on the plan

I agree. Yes, it won't be ideal but we can't miss out on the chance to get rid of players that Conte doesn't want.
That in itself is backing the manager, it's not all about buying players he wants, it's also about keeping those he does want and getting rid of those he doesn't.

We've been bemoaning being stuck with some of these players for ages, there's honestly no point in keeping them for the sake of it.

 

[T-Bone]

I think the most important signing we can make this year will be in that rumored investment happens because we need 7 players imo of top quality if we are going to get to genuine challeging for top honers and competing consistently and that will take huge investment.

 

[spursfan77]

Willian, that every single itk called. I mean the guy turned up to sign his contract ffs.

POTL over reacted and disappeared. On COYS at the time he got no grief at all. He got a lot of piss take on here though but I can’t remember him having a go at other itk. Him and JJ sharing info was good times and probably peak forum ITK where everything could be a bit more freely talked about before Twitter ruined it all for us. Now anyone sharing info has to be so careful. But it is what it is and we all enjoy it.

Anyway, he’d probably have been banned on coys like the rest of us now anyway even if he hadn’t of disappeared.

 

[branchie]

POTL over reacted and disappeared. On COYS at the time he got no grief at all. He got a lot of piss take on here though but I can’t remember him having a go at other itk. Him and JJ sharing info was good times and probably peak forum ITK where everything could be a bit more freely talked about before Twitter ruined it all for us. Now anyone sharing info has to be so careful. But it is what it is and we all enjoy it.

Anyway, he’d probably have been banned on coys like the rest of us now anyway even if he hadn’t of disappeared.

He definitely fell out with Peanut. It was like a fight between Greek gods

 

[Nerine]

I’ve often wondered how all these deals are paid.
Like, it seems that most of them are structured with finance type deals, sometimes with the full amount up front etc. Possibly some/most are instalment based.

I guess when the finance team look at the accounts it’s similar to us looking in our own accounts. Albeit much larger sums.
But sometimes, I’ll have to speculate incomings against outgoings and wait, or decide that I can’t do without and leave me shorter than I’d like for a couple of months etc.
I know it’s small time compared to a football club.

But I’d be really interested to know how the fees etc are transacted and whether every month/year, payments come in for players that we’ve sold previously. Payments go out for players we’ve bought etc.

I’d estimate that the spreadsheets go quite far into the future, and we do speculate (or not) based on predicted future income etc. when payments will cease - both income and outcome, when new payments will start etc. whether we need to pony up up front, whether we can convince a club to accept instalments. Like, just because we can afford something in instalments based on revenue, doesn’t mean the seller can afford to be paid in instalments. They might need to sign a replacement and not have enough upfront for their purchase and their “monthly” income might mean they’d have to wait for another window to “save up” as it were.

When you think about all of the variables involved, and the mind boggling numbers, and the size of the payroll and how much income and outgoings there are every period, and how that changes over time, I think it’s probably fair to consider that building a squad, and player purchasing/selling is a bit of a minefield and there’d be an awful lot of affordability and balancing/structuring to take into account.

You can see how it might take time.

Factor in we’re also trying to sell players. That will affect how we conduct business with purchases because of how the balance sheet will be affected.

Factor in that every club that we are dealing with for incomings and outgoings with will also be performing this balancing act…

It’s a lot of stuff to consider.

Quite fascinating, IMO.

 

[Nerine]

I’ve often wondered how all these deals are paid.
Like, it seems that most of them are structured with finance type deals, sometimes with the full amount up front etc. Possibly some/most are instalment based.

I guess when the finance team look at the accounts it’s similar to us looking in our own accounts. Albeit much larger sums.
But sometimes, I’ll have to speculate incomings against outgoings and wait, or decide that I can’t do without and leave me shorter than I’d like for a couple of months etc.
I know it’s small time compared to a football club.

But I’d be really interested to know how the fees etc are transacted and whether every month/year, payments come in for players that we’ve sold previously. Payments go out for players we’ve bought etc.

I’d estimate that the spreadsheets go quite far into the future, and we do speculate (or not) based on predicted future income etc. when payments will cease - both income and outcome, when new payments will start etc. whether we need to pony up up front, whether we can convince a club to accept instalments. Like, just because we can afford something in instalments based on revenue, doesn’t mean the seller can afford to be paid in instalments. They might need to sign a replacement and not have enough upfront for their purchase and their “monthly” income might mean they’d have to wait for another window to “save up” as it were.

When you think about all of the variables involved, and the mind boggling numbers, and the size of the payroll and how much income and outgoings there are every period, and how that changes over time, I think it’s probably fair to consider that building a squad, and player purchasing/selling is a bit of a minefield and there’d be an awful lot of affordability and balancing/structuring to take into account.

You can see how it might take time.

Factor in we’re also trying to sell players. That will affect how we conduct business with purchases because of how the balance sheet will be affected.

Factor in that ever club that we are dealing for incomings and outgoings with will also be performing this balancing act…

It’s a lot of stuff to consider.

Quite fascinating, IMO.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and everything’s just wired for the full amount, and you’ve then got essentially what you’ve got.

The more I think about it, though, the more and more complicated it becomes.

 

[Hoopspur]

I'd honestly be happy to clear out our squad in preparation for next season. Yeah, we may struggle a bit for the rest of this season but if Conte doesn't want to play them anyway, we're not actually missing much.

There are some players we just need to get off our books, whether we replace them now or in six months, at least they're not taking up space and wages

I said that at the end of last season tbh, and still here we are. That Villa game almost killed me off. I said not one of them was sacred then.

Sorry to go off topic folks. Gears grinding etc.

 

[Trent Crimm]

I reckon if DL himself posted on here under a pseudonym with ITK, there'd still be stuff he get "wrong" and people would say ITK is this and that and doesn't exist. As the old saying about the fat lady goes, it's absolutely impossible to call a transfer until the contract is signed.

I reckon a book about transfers we'd come close to and never knew about would be thousands of pages long. I don't think we had the slightest clue about De Jong (or whoever it was) until he himself mentioned it a year or so later.

Well, if @dannydoes69 or @youbaldheadedgeniusyou ever rock up on here it will be pretty obvs ?

 

[WiganSpur]

I would never be against a Sherwood-style squad to end a season. Get rid of some paperweights and fill in the gaps with some younger players.

We've always, always, always had issues with selling players, and I tend to get more excited about the outs than the ins as a result. Sell now and know where we stand so we can do some Modric-esq transfers (april?) that know they're starting pre-season weeks or months in advance. Better than the causality style "if we can sell A then we'll buy B" that drags on.

Hearing more about outgoings is, therefore, plenty fine for me - as long as Conte is in on the plan

I definitely agree with getting as many out as possible and the patient approach to permanent incomings (free transfers, Vlahovic etc) but that does not mean the club can't get some clever loans in to get us top 4. If Conte wants a forward there has to be someone (like Vinicius for example) that we can bring in for 6 months to help us get over the line. If we get all of GLC, Dele and Ndombele out then that will mean that we probably can't afford to loan out Gil and if the likes of White, Devine and John aren't ready then we'll likely need another loan in midfield as one injury there and top 4 is gone.

We won't get a forward/striker imo (We never do in January). The club will claim they are waiting for Dybala or Vlahovic but like I said that doesn't excuse a loan. But I can see Wijnaldum happening and obviously Traore.

 

[worcestersauce]

I’ll field this one before you leave.

Herc can be an idiot. He struggles to contain himself. He doesn’t “get” how easily things can be misinterpreted. He doesn’t take things that seriously himself. He’ll make typos and not correct them. We repeatedly try to “train” him on how to post but he doesn’t do it. Even right now he’s told us about some “certain to sign” players and we told him absolutely not to use that phrasing in public or he’ll get torn apart. Not even Levy can say a signing is certain.

However, he is absolutely without any doubt ITK with decent sources. We know with absolute proof (photos, text messages, even phone calls) who his sources are.

Taking an example this week that he didn’t get any credit for. He told us about Hugo’s new deal way before it broke anywhere else. He does that a lot, tells us stuff that ends up being true but which he doesn’t post. At the same time he’ll post some stuff he probably should keep quiet. He got abuse for the postponement story but he was right, everyone at the club absolutely expected the game to go ahead.

The most important point to make though is that he’s a decent bloke. He’s just passing on info to fans despite the abuse he gets for it and despite all the ****s who are too stupid to understand why we stand by him.

Hope that clears it up. Now fuck off.

For what it's worth I love Hercules' enthusiasm, we just need to read it with the same enthusiasm and enjoy.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

For what it's worth I love Hercules' enthusiasm, we just need to read it right.

Gud look with that.

 

[worcestersauce]

Gud look with that.

I actually edited it before I saw this?

 

[tubbygold]

I reckon if DL himself posted on here under a pseudonym with ITK, there'd still be stuff he get "wrong" and people would say ITK is this and that and doesn't exist. As the old saying about the fat lady goes, it's absolutely impossible to call a transfer until the contract is signed.

I reckon a book about transfers we'd come close to and never knew about would be thousands of pages long. I don't think we had the slightest clue about De Jong (or whoever it was) until he himself mentioned it a year or so later.

Bit of a side-track, but something like this happened in Denmark, at Brøndby not too long ago. The majority owner and chairman of the club was posting on the fan board under a pseudonym. don't think there was any ITK stuff, but he did a lot of moaning about the coach of the time (Thomas Frank). It eventually came to light and Thomas Frank resigned, not wanting work under those circumstances.